Fun Large Frogmouth Facts For Kids

Frogmouths are birds that are aptly named for their broad, frog-like gape. These birds are found in Australia and southeastern Asia. Frogmouths are considered similar to owls, but actually, these birds are related to nightjars. Frogmouths have slightly hooked and substantial bills. The related nightjars have weak bills. Some frogmouth bird species in Australia diet on berries and fruits, but usually, the birds in this genus feed on insects and small lizards, or mice. All the species are nocturnal and hunt at night.The large frogmouth (Batrachostomus auritus) is a species of frogmouth among 12 other species. This bird is found in primary lowland forests and due to habitat loss, is given the status Near Threatened. The large frogmouth is known to lie on the branch of the trees in the forests while resting. They are mostly found in the forests of Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, Indonesia, and Brunei.For more relatable content, check out these frigate bird facts and hermit thrush fun facts for kids.

What do they prey on? Insects

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? 1

How much do they weigh? N/A

How long are they? 17 in (43.2 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Pale brown

Skin Type Feathers

What were their main threats? Habitat Loss

What is their conservation status? Near Threatened

Where you’ll find them? Subtropical And Tropical Moist Lowland Forest

Locations Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sumatra, Brunei

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Batrachostomus

Class Aves

Family Podargidae

Large Frogmouth Interesting FactsWhat type of animal is a large frogmouth?The large frogmouth is a species of bird in the family of Podargidae.What class of animal does a large frogmouth belong to?The large frogmouth falls under the class of Aves in the kingdom of Animalia.How many large frogmouths are there in the world?The population of the large frogmouth is not known. Due to habitat degradation, this bird species is Near Threatened currently. The tawny frogmouths on the other hand are quite common and there are at least 10,000 mature individuals in the world.Where does a large frogmouth live?The frogmouths of the genus Batrachostomus are found specifically in Asia. The large frogmouth of this genus which is now near threatened is found primarily in Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, Indonesia, and Brunei. The bird is found in the forests from southern Thailand through Sarawak, Sabah, and peninsular Malaysia. From there, the range extends to Kalimantan, Sumatra, Indonesia, and Brunei. Frequent loss of habitats in these regions has led to the Near Threatened status of the species from Asia.What is a large frogmouth’s habitat?The habitats of these species of the world include a primary lowland forest. They are also found in secondary forests sometimes. The birds are found in tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests and subtropical and tropical moist montanes. They prefer undisturbed areas but are sometimes found in disturbed ones too. The near-threatened species is found in elevated areas of up to 3280 ft (999.7 m) from sea level.Who do large frogmouths live with?They are found in pairs or solitary hidden in a hole or perching on a branch of a tree in the daytime. Much information on these birds is not available.How long does a large frogmouth live?The lifespan of the large frogmouth is not available. The tawny frogmouth from Australia lives up to the age of 14 years in the wild.How do they reproduce?Although other species of frogmouths like tawny frogmouths lay a clutch of two to three eggs, the large frogmouths are known to lay just a single egg in a breeding season.The nest is found attached to a slender branch of a small tree in the forest. Though the species is huge, the bird fairly remains inconspicuous. The nest consists of down which balances the egg. The parent bird which incubates the egg is seen crouching lengthwise along the branch. This position of the bird also denies the egg from falling to the ground. Both parents take care of the chick for a specific period.The nest is made by the females of the Malaysia large frogmouth. Green leaves (fresh or dried) and twigs are used in the nest.What is their conservation status?The conservation status of the large frogmouth (Batrachostomus auritus) is categorized as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List. This bird species of the family Podargidae is threatened by habitat loss.Large Frogmouth Fun FactsWhat do large frogmouths look like?The upper parts of the bird are mainly blacking brown and chestnut colored. The bird has bright white spots on its wings. The underparts of the large frogmouth dull brown in color where the belly is paler than the chest. The gape is yellow and the beak is horn-colored with a dark tip. The legs are colored dull yellow and the eyes are light or dark brown. Both sexes look the same.The tawny frogmouth is quite different with a black, white, and mottled gray plumage.How cute are they?They are not usually considered cute.How do they communicate?The large frogmouth call sounds like a song during the nighttime. The bird is known to communicate from a tree with a series of four to eight loud, liquid trills.How big is a large frogmouth?The length of the Malaysian large frogmouth bird goes up to 17 in (43.18 cm). The tawny frogmouth which is often mistaken for owls is part of the same family (Podargidae) as the large frogmouth. This bird species has a length which has ranges from 13-21 in (33-53.3 cm).How fast can a large frogmouth fly?The large frogmouth is not a great flyer and prefers sitting on the trees to flying around. The speed is not known.How much does a large frogmouth weigh?The weight of the large frogmouth (Batrachostomus auritus) is not known. The tawny frogmouth of Australia has a weight that has a range of up to 1.2 lb (544.3 g).What are the male and female names of the species?Males and females of this Near Threatened species are not given different names. The species is collectively known by their scientific name.What would you call a baby large frogmouth?A baby large frogmouth is called a chick or young.What do they eat?The large frogmouth (Batrachostomus auritus) feeds mainly on insects like cicadas and grasshoppers. This bird from Asia hunts at night. Tawny frogmouths are known to feed on various insects, frogs, and spiders. The tawny frogmouth feeds on larger prey and these prey are sometimes beaten against rocks before swallowing them.Are they dangerous?They are not dangerous.Would they make a good pet?The large frogmouth (Batrachostomus auritus) is not usually considered a pet due to its selective habitats.Did you know…The tawny frogmouth is sometimes called a mopoke because the range of the bird overlaps with the Southern Boobook Owl. The call of this owl is ‘mopoke, mopoke’. The tawny frogmouth from Australia is not an owl.Frogmouth owls eat insects, worms, slugs, and snails. Sometimes, they are also found to feed on small mammals, frogs, other birds, and reptiles.Naming the large frogmouthThe large strong beak that has a wide gape is the reason for the name given to the species. But this species from Asia is smaller than the Australian species. The large frogmouth of Asia also differs in color and nest structure.Types of frogmouth and how they are differentThere has been much research regarding the two frogmouth groups. Studies on DNA-DNA hybridization states that the two groups may not be closely related to each other as were thought previously. The species from Asia were found to be members of a new family.There are three genera of frogmouth established - Podargus, Batrachostomus, and Rigidipenna. Among these, there are 14 species of frogmouths known.The three species of the genus Podargus - tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides), papuan frogmouth (Podargus papuensis), and marbled frogmouth (Podargus ocellatus) are large in size and are all found in Australia and New Guinea. They are distinguished by having flat and broad bills, as seen on the tawny frogmouths.The members of the genus Batrachostomus are found in tropical Asia and have smaller and rounder bills. They are dominantly insectivores and have 10 different species known. The large frogmouth (Batrachostomus auritus) is among the 10. Some other species in this genus from Asia are Dulit frogmouth, Phillippine frogmouth, Hodgson’s frogmouth, short-tailed frogmouth, and Blyth’s frogmouth. All the species are endemic to tropical Asia.A new species was found in the Solomon Islands called the Solomons frogmouth. These birds were given the status of a new genus and were found recently in the Islands in 2007.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these ruby-throated hummingbird facts and yellow-breasted chat fun facts for kids pages.You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable bird coloring pages.

What type of animal is a large frogmouth?

The large frogmouth is a species of bird in the family of Podargidae.

Fun Large Frogmouth Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Insects

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? 1

How much do they weigh? N/A

How long are they? 17 in (43.2 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Pale brown

Skin Type Feathers

What were their main threats? Habitat Loss

What is their conservation status? Near Threatened

Where you’ll find them? Subtropical And Tropical Moist Lowland Forest

Locations Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sumatra, Brunei

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Batrachostomus

Class Aves

Family Podargidae

Fun Large Frogmouth Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Insects

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? 1

How much do they weigh? N/A

How long are they? 17 in (43.2 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Pale brown

Skin Type Feathers

What were their main threats? Habitat Loss

What is their conservation status? Near Threatened

Where you’ll find them? Subtropical And Tropical Moist Lowland Forest

Locations Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sumatra, Brunei

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Batrachostomus

Class Aves

Family Podargidae

Fun Large Frogmouth Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Insects

What do they eat? Carnivore

Average litter size? 1

How much do they weigh? N/A

How long are they? 17 in (43.2 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Pale brown

Skin Type Feathers

What were their main threats? Habitat Loss

What is their conservation status? Near Threatened

Where you’ll find them? Subtropical And Tropical Moist Lowland Forest

Locations Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sumatra, Brunei

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Batrachostomus

Class Aves

Family Podargidae